With locking zippers and RFID technology to protect your credit cards, the Travelon crossbody is a worthy anti-theft bag.
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Meet the Travelon Crossbody, Our Favorite Anti-Slash, Anti-Theft Bag
Updated Sep. 13, 2024
Whether we’re talking about the best carry-on luggage, underseat luggage or anti-theft bags, there’s one brand that consistently makes its way onto our “best” lists: Travelon. In fact, after thorough testing by our Product Testing Team, four Travelon bags made it onto our list of best anti-theft bags, including the Travelon crossbody bag, which earned the top spot as “Best Overall.”
Anti-theft bags feature built-in safety features, such as anti-slash materials, locks and radio frequency identification (RFID)-blocking capabilities to keep your belongings safe while you travel at home or abroad. In order to assess whether or not these bags really stand a chance against pickpockets and thieves, our Product Testing Team took them into our studio and performed a battery of tests. And yes, we even went as far as slashing each bag with a box cutter. We also sent these bags home with experienced product testers to see how each one holds up to everyday wear. Once we were through with the entire testing process, we summarized all of our findings in a series of detailed reviews. Here is our Travelon Crossbody review, which tells you everything you need to know before you go and add it to your cart.
What is the Travelon crossbody bag?
The Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Messenger Bag is a utilitarian-style anti-theft bag that can be worn across your body or on your shoulder. It boasts a roomy main compartment with an internal zipping pocket, a split-side pocket and a strap with an attached flashlight so you can store and easily find all of your essentials. It also has two zippered side pockets with mesh, an expanding back pocket and an angular front pocket for additional storage space. The entire bag features a protective mesh layer underneath the water-resistant nylon fabric to protect against slashing, and the strap is reinforced with slash-resistant wiring. It also has RFID technology to protect your credit cards and locking zippers for extra protection.
This Travelon crossbody bag is offered in three neutral colors that’ll go with just about anything in your closet. It’s on the larger side, but given its basic, casual design, our testers feel that it could function as a unisex bag.
That said, if you’re looking for something smaller and even more versatile, then you may want to consider the Travelon convertible crossbody and waist pack, which features a super simple design and can be worn as a crossbody bag or a belt bag.
MELISSA FRANCO/RD.COM
Editor's Pick
Travelon Messenger Bag
This anti-theft bag has a utilitarian design and comes in three neutral colors, making it ideal for everyday wear.
How we tested it
Associate product reviews editor, Sheri Kaz, led the charge in the Testing Lab with our Product Testing Team to see what this Travelon crossbody bag is really made of. Upon first glance, the team noted that while this bag might not be much to look at in terms of style, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. “This is a very basic bag that’s more utility than style. Nicely, though, it’s somewhat unisex,” muses the Product Testing Team. “The angular design of the front flap and squared-off corners give this a tidy appearance.” They were also impressed by overall quality and durability, noting that the seams appear durable, the latches are strong and the zippers work well. What they didn’t like, however, was the strap, which they described as scratchy, rigid and thin.
After their initial observations, the team filled the bag with an appropriate assortment of items, including keys, a wallet, sunglasses, a book and a water bottle. With all of the items stowed away, this bag weighed in at 5.5 pounds. Kaz then wore it as a crossbody bag for 15 minutes. “This put strain on my shoulder near my neck when carrying 5.5 pounds. The strap felt narrow and dug in when worn as a crossbody bag,” reports Kaz. However, she adds that the bag felt much more comfortable when she removed the full water bottle.
After taking off the bag, our team moved on to see how this bag held up to water. They found that water beaded off when the bag was sprayed. On the other hand, when placed on a wet counter, water soaked into the outer layer of the bag, though it didn’t soak through to the interior. Although this bag proved to be fairly water-resistant, you’ll still want to be careful if you’re traveling in wet conditions. Our team discovered that the zippers on this bag are not leakproof after the book inside the bag got wet from the top.
Next, it was on to test the Travelon crossbody bag’s anti-theft capabilities. Our team did this by locking and unlocking the zippers to evaluate their ease of use and level of security. “The zippers clip to a D-ring and are easy to operate,” explains the Product Testing Team. “The hook that holds the strap on has an extra layer of security with the locking hook.” Then, they tested the anti-slash strap and body by taking a box cutter to them. They were pleased to find that they were unable to cut all the way through the strap or the front compartment pocket.
Once the Product Testing Team completed their testing, they sent the bag home with tester Melissa Franco to see how it holds up to everyday wear. Franco, who is a busy mom of two, was delighted by how much she was able to store in this Travelon crossbody bag. “There are a lot of compartments. As a mom of two young kids, I always carry a lot of miscellaneous items with me. This bag is big enough to accommodate everything—from Kleenex to snacks to hand wipes. You never know when you might need them,” she raves. However, she does agree with Kaz that the bag can become too heavy and uncomfortable if overpacked. “It tends to get a bit heavy if you pack every compartment full,” she says. Additionally, Franco explained that while the adjustable strap allows her to find a comfortable place for the bag to rest—for Franco this is lower on her hip—it has a tendency to twist and can become uncomfortable when worn for extended periods of time.
Franco also agrees with the Product Testing Team’s assessment of the bag’s overall durability. “The strap hooks and zippers are durable, and it feels like quality material,” she says. However, she did point out that one of the exterior zippered compartments would slide open on its own, causing her to always keep it latched shut.
Overall, both Franco and our experts on the Product Testing Team agree that at $80, this bag is a good value. “For a sturdy and functional bag with anti-theft features, $80 seems reasonable,” says the Product Testing Team. And if you can snag this Travelon crossbody bag on sale, even better!
Pros
- Anti-slash compartment and straps
- Protected card and passport compartment
- RFID-blocking pockets
- Locking zippers
- Roomy interior
- Casual design and neutral colors
- Dirt- and water-resistant
Cons
- Zippers aren’t leakproof
- Shoulder strap can become uncomfortable after wearing for an extended period of time
Why you should trust us
At Reader’s Digest, we know how important it is to have peace of mind wherever you are. Whether you’re exploring a new city, attending your local state fair or simply running errands around town, it’s crucial that you feel safe. That’s why we love products like zipperless luggage and anti-theft bags, which deter thieves. As a diverse mix of travelers, parents and pet owners who know how easy it is to become distracted or disoriented while out and about, our editors and testers have years of personal experience trying to keep our purses safe. As shopping experts, we are always excited to share our winning products and will never recommend anything we don’t love, regardless of a product’s popularity.
Our product testing experts on the Product Testing Team spent around 36 hours in our Testing Lab carefully inspecting 15 anti-theft bags and considering each bag’s anti-theft capabilities, comfort and wearability, durability, capacity and functionality. Several of those hours were spent with the Travelon crossbody bag. We also had one of our testers carry this bag with her daily to see how it holds up to real-life use. “The Travelon crossbody bag has now become my everyday purse! Every time I leave the house, I grab it to bring with me,” says Franco. “I go to work, shopping, kid’s events–basically everywhere!”
MELISSA FRANCO/RD.COM
Editor's Pick
Travelon Messenger Bag
This Travelon crossbody has plenty of room for all of your essentials. Cut-resistant straps and fabric, locking zippers and RFID technology keep them safe and secure.
Originally Published: September 13, 2024
